1
as in controllers
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system
the controls for the player are well marked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in hands
the ability to direct the course of something
after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control firefighters keeping control of the blaze
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in operations
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something
control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in powers
the right or means to command or control others
teachers are responsible for the students under their control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in regulates
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you must learn to control your temper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of
he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over
circumstances often control the choices we make in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in operates
to look after and make decisions about
during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of controls
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Ten years ago, several sites, including YouTube and Tumblr, also lacked guardrails and only added meaningful parental controls in recent years.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed midair, prompting a second pilot and co-pilot to take over the controls, Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün said.
—Shane Croucher
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Taking advantage of advanced features like spatial awareness, hand gestures, and more could give a Bridge Crew sequel new ways to interact with the controls on the bridge, as well as interact with crewmates.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Meta already offers parental controls on teen accounts.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Are there detailed tutorials explaining the basic controls and deeper strategies?
—ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
Interior trims range from basic to luxurious, but all feature easy to use controls, physical switches and dials for key functions and one of the auto industry’s best touch screens and infotainment systems.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Such additions include new parental controls and changes to the way the chatbot handles conversations that may involve signs of distress.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
History is also on their side because the party that controls the White House has nearly always lost House seats in the midterm elections going back to 1938.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
If which of the two parties — which agree on about 80 percent of things — controls Congress is the question on which the future of the republic hangs, then the republic has no future.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
The team has now built the first transistor-like switch that controls exciton flow.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Users may believe their chats are private, but in many cases, the company controls how the information is stored, shared or even sold.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In 2023, Woodland was diagnosed with a lesion on the part of the brain that controls fear and anxiety.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Dystonia is thought to begin in the part of the brain called the basal ganglia that controls how muscles contract.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is 30% off, giving you a bedside smart display that tracks your sleep, controls lights and music, and responds to simple hand gestures without needing to touch the screen.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Modified plants grew two to three times heavier than controls.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Ten years ago, several sites, including YouTube and Tumblr, also lacked guardrails and only added meaningful parental controls in recent years.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed midair, prompting a second pilot and co-pilot to take over the controls, Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün said.
—Shane Croucher
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Taking advantage of advanced features like spatial awareness, hand gestures, and more could give a Bridge Crew sequel new ways to interact with the controls on the bridge, as well as interact with crewmates.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Meta already offers parental controls on teen accounts.
—Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Are there detailed tutorials explaining the basic controls and deeper strategies?
—ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
Interior trims range from basic to luxurious, but all feature easy to use controls, physical switches and dials for key functions and one of the auto industry’s best touch screens and infotainment systems.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Such additions include new parental controls and changes to the way the chatbot handles conversations that may involve signs of distress.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Uniquely, Google controls both its hardware and software, unlike all other Android OEMs including Samsung, the largest of them all.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
History is also on their side because the party that controls the White House has nearly always lost House seats in the midterm elections going back to 1938.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
If which of the two parties — which agree on about 80 percent of things — controls Congress is the question on which the future of the republic hangs, then the republic has no future.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
The team has now built the first transistor-like switch that controls exciton flow.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Users may believe their chats are private, but in many cases, the company controls how the information is stored, shared or even sold.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In 2023, Woodland was diagnosed with a lesion on the part of the brain that controls fear and anxiety.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Dystonia is thought to begin in the part of the brain called the basal ganglia that controls how muscles contract.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is 30% off, giving you a bedside smart display that tracks your sleep, controls lights and music, and responds to simple hand gestures without needing to touch the screen.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls
Noun
-
Much like a doctor requires accurate, state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate a patient’s physical well-being, CFOs and controllers need real-time, reliable data to monitor working capital, forecast cash flow and ensure compliance.—
Nate Heeren,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The TrueStrike controllers include Hall-effect control sticks and a large directional pad.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The agents pushed him against a metal fence, put his hands behind his back and twisted his arm, according to the lawsuit.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
As the sun was setting, hundreds of North Texans — many clad in black — gathered with candles and posters in their hands and solidarity in their hearts.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Israel began ground operations within the city about a week ago.—
Diaa Ostaz,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Embedding causal inference to improve reasoning, reduce error cascades, and support safer, more reliable operations.—
Rajeev Ronanki,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While the Gulf states may well reconsider aspects of their defense and procurement policies, a major re-pivot to primarily buying military hardware, especially sophisticated equipment, from China or Russia and other rivals of the Western powers seems highly unlikely.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
At the peak of his powers, Urquidy was a finesse pitcher who relied on command.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By using pollen to reflect more of the energy, the camellia microgel regulates skin temperature, keeping it about 9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler for around 20 minutes.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Schultz, a medical doctor, has helped run the agency that regulates the county’s emergency medical care system for about six years.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The First 70 Years contains impeccable research and analysis, accompanied by fascinating photos of the sets, film crews, and casts.—
Michael Taube,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The system contains unverified reports of side effects, including from patients, doctors and pharmacists.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Once again, rumore rules over all, to the amusement of the diners.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In a rare move, the panel in Atlanta also voted 2-1 to stop the environmental groups’ case from proceeding in Miami federal court until the appeals court rules on the merits of the state’s request to lift the judge’s injunction.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The film operates under the Primetime banner, neurodivergent actor-producer Victoria Emslie’s platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices across disability, gender, global majority and sexuality spectrums.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Build a team that operates without you.—
Guy Peixoto,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controls. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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